All posts by Tom Szocinski

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization (DERR) has developed a memorandum on action levels and response timeframes for sites that are being investigated for vapor intrusion of trichloroethylene (TCE) and other associated chemicals. DERR developed this guidance in consultation with USEPA and uses these risk levels and response times when conducting Ohio EPA lead investigations for the CERCLA and RCRA programs.

This guidance does not have the force of law, but Ohio EPA recommends its use to outside stake holders, including the Voluntary Action Program (VAP), in evaluating the concentrations of volatile compounds in groundwater, soil gas or indoor air in residences and commercial buildings. Refer to this link for further information relating to the recent memorandum on the document titled “Recommendations Regarding Response Action Levels and Timeframes for Common Contaminants of Concern at Vapor Intrusion Sites in Ohio.”

Uptown Riverfront Development, is an upscale residential townhome and mixed-use (live-work) commercial development located on the Boardman River in Traverse City, Michigan. Grand Traverse County’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority was awarded $800,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds from the State of Michigan for demolition/blight removal to segue for the redevelopment. Environmental investigations were conducted at the site as part of the purchase and redevelopment process. Chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) were identified within the subsurface which appeared to be from historical operations at the site. These CVOCs were identified above Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) vapor intrusion screening levels. Therefore, as part of the Brownfield Redevelopment, a vapor mitigation system was determined to be necessary. Land Science assisted the environmental consulting firm, AKT Peerless, with the design of the system and provided both the vapor barriers (Geo-Seal®and Retro-Coat™) and subsurface ventilation (Vapor-Vent™) for the necessary buildings requiring mitigation systems at the site. The development is now nearing completion, with Phase 3 of the project to be completed by Spring 2017. Uptown Development TC, LLC’s, Project Manager, Mike Wills stated, “Without Land Science’s Geo-Seal and Retro-Coat vapor barriers, our redevelopment of a downtown Traverse City, Michigan Brownfield Site into upscale residential townhomes would have been impossible”.

Land Science’s team of vapor intrusion experts have provided vapor intrusion and mitigation solutions at numerous sites across the nation. See more successful case studies including award winning and nationally recognized Brownfield sites, industrial, commercial, and residential developments.